Plate-type vibrator compactor

ABSTRACT

A plate-type vibratory compactor which includes an oil-sealed vibrator unit mounted on the sole plate of the compactor. The vibrator unit includes an open-ended housing with bearings and a rotatable eccentric weight removably mounted in the housing. The bearings and eccentric weight may be removed from the housing if replacement is necessary. Oil is contained in the housing for continuously lubricating the bearings. The vibration-generating unit may be applied to either a self-propelled vibratory compactor or a compactor used in connection with a vehicle such as a backhoe. Two vibration-generating units and a transmission may be used with a self-propelled compactor to provide a direction-reversing feature.

United States Patent 1111 3,603,224

[72] Inventor Seymour Dresher 3,128,682 4/1964 Thompson 94/48Morristown, NJ. 3,199,424 8/1965 Glass 1 1 94/48 [21] Appl. No. 800,1193,232,188 2/1966 Frohnauer.. 94/48 [22] Filed Feb. 18,1969 3,253,5225/1966 Piper 1. 94/48 (45] Patented SepL 7, 1971 3,274,907 9/1966 Haage.v 1 =94/48 (73] Assignec lngersoll-Rand Company 3,283,677 1 1/1966Uebel 94/48 New York, N.Y. 3,342,188 9/1967 Beieriein 94/48 PrimaryExaminer-Nile C. Byers, Jr. 1 54] PLATEJ'YPE VIBRATOR COMPACTORAttorneys-Car1 R. Horten, David W. Tibbott and Frank H,

10 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs. Thomson [52] US. Cl 94/48 i 1 1111- C1 A l1501C 1 /30 ABSTRACT: A plate-type vibratory compactor which in- 0fSearch 9; eludes an oi1sea1ed vibrator unit mounted on the sole plate of/61 the compactor. The vibrator unit includes an open-ended housin withbearin s and a rotatable eccentric wei ht [56] Reerences cued remov blymounted is the housing. The bearings and ecc n- UNITED STATES PATENTStric weight may be removed from the housing if replacement is 1,876,2719/1932 Baily .1 94/48 x n ryi i contained i h h ing f r on in o ly2,766,629 10/1956 Booth 74/61 lubricating the bearings. Thevibration-generating unit may be 2,856,828 10/1958 Brown h 894/48 ppli dto ei r a f-pr p lled i r ry compactor r :1 2,466,822 4/1949 Pollitz94/50 compactor used in connection with a vehicle such as a 2,938,4385/1960 Hamilton.... 94/48 backhoe. Two vibration-generating units and atransmission 2,952,193 9/1960 Converse 94/48 may be used with aself-propelled compactor to provide a 3,052,166 9/1962 Thrun 94/48direction-re e sing feature- PATENTED SEP 7 IEIYI SHEET 1 OF 2 FIG. 2

lNVENTOR SEYMOUR DRESHEI? fMWW ATTORNEY SHEET 2 OF 2 PATENTEUS'EP HanINVENTOR SEYMOUR DRESHER BY W ATTORNEY PLATE-TYPE VIBRATOR COMPACTORBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to vibratorycompactors and in particular to a novel vibrator for use with plate-typevibratory compactors and a new configuration of a plate-type vibratorycompactor which permits the direction of travel of a selfpropelledvibratory compactor to be reversed.

Vibratory compactors which employ a rotating eccentric weight aregenerally known. They are usually used under conditions which do notlend themselves to long life. They are often used in the presence ofadverse conditions such as a large amount of dirt and dust as well aswater. Prior to this invention the rotating eccentric weight was mountedin bearings which were open to the elements. In such prior apparatus itis necessary to continuously grease the bearings in order to preventfailure. More often than not, the operator fails to perform thenecessary preventive maintenance such as greasing the bearings. Theelements such as dirt and water which get into the bearings often leadsto premature failure of the bearings. This may be the case eventhoughthe bearings are adequately greased.

' By the present invention a sealed housing has been provided for thevibrating element and the bearings are mounted within this housing. Thehousing may be partially filled with a lubricant so that the bearingsare continuously lubricated.

Also prior to this invention when it was desired to compact dirt andother materials in trenches, it was necessary for a man to enter thetrench witha hand-held tamping tool. The trench is partially filled withdirt and that dirt is compacted. The remainder of the trench is thenfilled with dirt and compacted. These trenches often containwater andthe effect is adverse on the operator who enters them and on the toolsused to compact the soil. By the present invention a compactor has beenprovided which may be connected to a vehicle such as a backhoe and usedfor compacting material in a trench without requiring a man to enter thetrench.

With most prior self-propelled plate-type compactors, when it is desiredto reverse the direction of travel of the compactor, it was necessary toturn the compactor around. In one em bodiment in this invention, a largeplate-type vibrating compactor is provided which permits reversingdirection of travel of a vibratory plate compactor without turning thecompactor around.

SUMMARY It is therefore the principal object of this invention toprovide a novel vibration-generating unit for a plate-type vibratorycompactor which will substantially reduce failures of the unit due toadverse conditions encountered in the use of the compactor.

It is another object of this invention to provide a vibrationgeneratingunit for vibratory compactors which may be used in more than one type ofvibratory compactor.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a plate-typcvibratory compactor which is adapted to be'connected to a vehicle.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a reversibleplate-type vibratory compactor.

In general, these and other objects will be carried out by providing avibratory compactor comprising: a sole plate for engaging the materialto be compacted; an open-ended housing secured to said soleplate;bearing means removably mounted within said housing; a shaft positionedwithin said I housing and rotatably mounted in said bearing means;eccentric weight means mounted on said shaft; cover means removablysecured to said housing for closing the ends of said housing; saidhousing being adapted to be at least partially filled with a lubricant;and means forrotating said shaft and eccentric weight for generatingvibrations in said soleplate.

2 DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be described inconnection withthe annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a view partly in section showing a vibratory compactor adaptedto be used with a vehicle such asa backhoe;

FIG. 2 is a plan view taken on the line 22 ofFlG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a self-propelled vibratory compactor employingthe vibration-generating unit of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the compactor of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of the vibrationgenerating unitof the present invention taken on the line 33 of FIG. 4; V

FIG. 6 is a generally schematic view of a reversible selfpropelledvibratory compactor; and I f FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 showingthe compactor of FIG. 6 driven for movement in the opposite direction.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In FIGS. I and 2, there isshown a plate-type vibratory compactor which is adapted to be used inconnection with a vehicle such as a backhoe. When used with a vehicle, avibratory compactor need not be self-propelled; i.e., compaction is thesole object; forward motion is not necessary. The compactor is generallyindicated at 1 and includes a housing 2 mounted on a work-contactingsoleplate 3. The housing is closed by plates 7 4. The compactor isconnected to a vehicle such as a backhoe 6, only a portion of which hasbeen shown. The connection is made by means of a channel 7 and pin means8. Rubber shock absorbers 10 are provided for isolating the vibrationsof the compactor from the vehicle 6.

A vibration-generating means generally indicated at 15 is mounted on thesoleplate 3 and includes a rotating eccentric weight. The eccentricweight is rotated by means of a hydraulic motor II and belt drive 12.Hydraulic fluid is supplied to the motor 11 through connection 13 fromthe vehicle. Because backhoes are equipped with a source of hydraulicfluid power, the use of a hydraulic motor to drive the compactor makeshookup relatively easy. The vibration-generating unit is mounted on thesoleplate 3 so that it is used only for compaction, not for forwardmotion.

The vibration-generating apparatus is best shown in FIGS.'1 and 5.Although FIGS. 1 and 5 refer to two different applications of thevibrator, the vibrator unit is the same for both applications. Thevibrator 15 includes an open-ended housing 16. A pair of bearings 18 and19 are removably mounted within the housing 16 by means of plates 20 and21, respectively. A shaft 22 having an eccentric weight 23 is rotatablymounted in the bearings 18 and 19 and extends out of the housing so thata drive belt may be connected thereto. The open ends of the housing 16are closed by cover plates 24 and 25. The plate 25 is provided with anopening 26 therein for passage of the shaft 20 therethrough. The housingis provided with a filler cap 28 so that a suitable lubricant such asoil may placed in the housing I6. A seal 27 is positioned in the opening26 and surrounds the shaft 22 for preventing lubricant from leaking outof the housing l6. As the shaft 22 and eccentric weight 23 rotate, theeccentric weight moves through the lubricant in the housing and thelubricant serves to continuously oil the bearings I8 and I9 are preventwear. The substantially sealed housing prevents water and dirt fromentering the housing and bearings.

If, for some reason, the bearings fail and it is necessary to replaceeither the bearings or the shaft 22 and eccentric weight 23, all thatneed be done is remove the cover plate 25 and slide the shaft 22 andbearings 18 and 19 out of the housing. A new unit may then be insertedand the compactor is again operational.

Referring now to the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4, a vibratory compactorof the self-propelled type is shown which includes a soleplate 30adapted to engage the material 31 to be compacted. The plate 30 includesan upwardly turned portion 32 on which the vibration-generating unit ismounted. The vibration-generating unit is mounted on this upwardlyturned portion 32 to achieve a proper balance between forward motion anddownward compaction. As the eccentric 23 rotates in a counterclockwisedirection, the compactor will tend to move forward along the material tobe compacted. The plate 30 is provided with a handle 33. An internalcombustion engine 35 is mounted on the compactor for driving thevibrating generating means 15 through a centrifugal clutch, generallyindicated at 39 and belt 36. The centrifugal clutch permits the vibratorto be engaged at high idle speeds. A suitable guard 37 and steeringhandle 38 are provided. The engine 35 is mounted by means of shockabsorbing elements 40 between the upwardly turned sides of the soleplate30.

Referring now to the embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7, there is shown aplate-type vibratory compactor which is particularly adapted for usewhere a large area of material is to be compacted. The compactorincludes a soleplate 50 having upwardly turned portions 51 and 52 atopposite ends thereof. A suitable handle 53 is provided for guiding theunit. A vibration-generating unit similar to that employed in theembodiment of FIGS. 1 and 3 is mounted on each of the upwardly turnedportions 51 and 52. A suitable source of power such as agasoline-powered engine 55 is provided and connected to a reversingmechaniam or transmission 56. A belt or chain drive 57 connects thetransmission 56 to one of the vibrationgenerating means 15. A timingbelt 58 connects the second vibration-generating means 15 to the firstvibrator so that the two eccentric weights rotate in phase with eachother. Because the weights 23 are in phase with each other, thecompactor is provided with greater force. This permits the compactor tobe larger.

When it is desired to have the compactor move to the left as shown inthe drawings, the eccentric weights are rotated in a counterclockwisedirection. When it is desired to have the compactor move to the right asshown in the drawings, the transmission 56 is reversed so that theeccentric weights 23 rotate in a clockwise direction. Thus, thedirection of travel of the compactor can be easily reversed withoutturning, the compactor around.

From the foregoing it is apparent that the objects of this inventionhave been carried out. A vibratory element for compactors has beenprovided which-permits the apparatus to be used under all conditions andwhich may be used with a variety of compactors. Lubrication of thebearings of the vibrator is insured because of the sealed housing whichis at least partially filled with a lubricant. A large plate-type compactor is provided by use of two vibratory elements which are timed torotate in phase with each other.

I claim:

For use with a plate-type vibratory compactor, vibration generatingapparatus comprising:

an open ended housing secured to a workcontacting plate of a vibratorycompactor; a pair of spaced bearings and a bearing retainer removablymounted within said housing; I

a shaft rotatably mounted in said bearings;

eccentric weight means mounted on said shaft within said housing; and

a pair of cover means each removably secured to one side of said housingfor closing the ends of said housing and for retaining said bearings,retainer, shaft and weight means within said housing;

said housing being adapted to be at least partially filled with alubricant for lubricating said bearings, and to confine lubricanttherewithin;

one of said cover means defining means for providing access to saidbearings, shaft, and weight means; and wherein said bearings, retainer,shaft, and weight means are slidably replaceable through one end of saidhousing upon removal from 'said compactor of only said one cover means.2. The vibration-generating apparatus of claim I further comprising sealmeans for retaining lubricant within said hous ing.

3. The vibration generating apparatus of claim 2 wherein said shaftextends out of said housing and said seal means is positioned betweensaid shaft and one of said cover means.

4. A vibratory compactor comprising:

a solcplate for engaging the material to be compacted;

an open-ended housing secured to said soleplate;

bearing means removable mounted within said housing,

a shaft positioned within said housing and rotatably mounted in saidbearing means; I

eccentric weight means mounted on said shaft;

cover means removably secured to said housing for closing the ends ofsaid housing; said housing being adapted to be at least partially filledwith a lubricant, and to confine lubricant therewithin; and

means for rotating and drivingly coupled to said shaft and eccentricweight means for generating vibrations in said soleplate;

said cover means including at least one access cover at one end of saidhousing and wherein said bearing means, shaft, and weight means areslidably replaceable through said one end of said housing upon removalfrom said compactor of only said one access cover. I

5. The vibratory compactor of claim 4 wherein said means for rotatingsaid shaft and eccentric weight means is a hydraulic motor.

6. The vibratory compactor of claim 5 further comprising means formounting the compactor on a vehicle; said mounting means including meansfor isolating the vibrations from said vehicle.

7. The vibratory compactor of claim 4 wherein said means for rotatingsaid shaft is a gasoline-powered engine and the vibratory compactorfurther comprises means for isolating the vibrations generated by saidrotating shaft and eccentric weight means from said engine.

8. The vibratory compactor of claim 7 wherein said housing is positionedso that the rotation of said shaft and weight vibrates said soleplateand moves the compactor horizontally along the material to be compacted.

9. The vibratory compactor of claim 8 wherein said soleplate has aportion which is inclined upwardly and said housing is mounted on saidportion.

10. The vibratory compactor of claim 4 further comprising meanspositioned between said rotating means and said shaft for reversing thedirection of rotation of said shaft.

2. The vibration-generating apparatus of claim 1 further comprising sealmeans for retaining lubricant within said housing.
 3. The vibrationgenerating apparatus of claim 2 wherein said shaft extends out of saidhousing and said seal means is positioned between said shaft and one ofsaid cover means.
 4. A vibratory compactor comprising: a soleplate forengaging the material to be compacted; an open-ended housing secured tosaid soleplate; bearing means removable mounted within said housing, ashaft positioned within said housing and rotatably mounted in saidbearing means; eccentric weight means mounted on said shaft; cover meansremovably secured to said housing for closing the ends of said housing;said housing being adapted to be at least partially filled with alubricant, and to confine lubricant therewithin; and means for rotatingand drivingly coupled to said shaft and eccentric weight means forgenerating vibrations in said soleplate; said cover means including atleast one access cover at one end of said housing and wherein saidbearing means, shaft, and weight means are slidably replaceable throughsaid one end of said housing upon removal from said compactor of onlysaid one access cover.
 5. The vibratory compactor of claim 4 whereinsaid means for rotating said shaft and eccentric weight means is ahydraulic motor.
 6. The vibratory compactor of claim 5 furthercomprising means for mounting the compactor on a vehicle; said mountingmeans including means for isolating the vibrations from said vehicle. 7.The vibratory compactor of claim 4 wherein said means for rotating saidshaft is a gasoline-powered engine and the vibratory compactor furthercomprises means for isolating the vibrations generated by said rotatingshaft and eccentric weight means from said engine.
 8. The vibratorycompactor of claim 7 wherein said housing is positioned so that therotation of said shaft and weight vibrates said soleplate and moves thecompactor horizontally along the material to be compacted.
 9. Thevibratory compactor of claim 8 wherein said soleplate has a portionwhich is inclined upwardly and said housing is mounted on said portion.10. The vibratory compactor of claim 4 further comprising meanspositioned between said rotating means and said shaft for reversing thedirection of rotation of said shaft.